9 Good Friday and Easter traditions from around the world

In Bermuda, people fly kites on Good Friday to represent Jesus on his way to heaven. Here, President George Bush and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher join kids to launch kites into the sky in 1990.

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Iztapalapa, Mexico

This is one of the most realistic and brutal reenactments of the Crucifixion of Christ, with plenty of flogging and fake blood. The man chosen to play Jesus goes through physical and psychological training for an entire year leading up to Good Friday.

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Bessieres, France

Back in the 1800s, Napoleon stopped with his army in Bessieres and the omelettes that the townspeople fed them were so good he ordered them to make a giant omelette the next day. So they say, anyway. Now, every Easter, the Giant Omelette Brotherhood turn thousands of eggs into a 10-foot breakfast.

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Lima, Peru

In the 1600s, a slave painted a mural of Jesus on the cross in an adobe hut. Legend has it that despite attempts to paint over it and a massive earthquake, the mural stood strong. Now, it's called the Shrine of Our Lord of the Miracles, and every year a procession occurs in October—when the earthquake hit in 1746—in its honor. That's as impressive as any Good Friday celebration.

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Philippines

Instead of going for theater productions or fake blood, some Filipinos get literally nailed to crosses, real nails and all. They stay on the crosses for a few minutes to do penitence for their sins, and then are let down to let their wounds heal.

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Verges, Spain

On Easter Thursday, the people of Verges perform "La Dansa de la Mort," or the Dance of Death, with skeleton costumes, scythes, clocks, and ashes. It represents the final judgement.

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Australia

In Australia, bunnies are considered pests. So in 1991, Rabbit-Free Australia started a campaign to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby, a native Australian marsupial. Now, some companies make chocolate Easter bilbies to celebrate.

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Norway

Every year around Easter time, people in Norway curl up with new crime novels. This "Easter thriller" tradition started in 1923 when a publisher ran a front-page newspaper ad for a new who-done-it book so convincing, people thought it was real news.

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Poland

Splashing people with water on Easter Monday is said to bestow them with health and beauty in Poland. That straw getup is an Easter tradition as well.

In Bermuda, people fly kites on Good Friday to represent Jesus on his way to heaven. Here, President George Bush and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher join kids to launch kites into the sky in 1990.

Iztapalapa, Mexico

This is one of the most realistic and brutal reenactments of the Crucifixion of Christ, with plenty of flogging and fake blood. The man chosen to play Jesus goes through physical and psychological training for an entire year leading up to Good Friday.

Bessieres, France

Back in the 1800s, Napoleon stopped with his army in Bessieres and the omelettes that the townspeople fed them were so good he ordered them to make a giant omelette the next day. So they say, anyway. Now, every Easter, the Giant Omelette Brotherhood turn thousands of eggs into a 10-foot breakfast.

Lima, Peru

In the 1600s, a slave painted a mural of Jesus on the cross in an adobe hut. Legend has it that despite attempts to paint over it and a massive earthquake, the mural stood strong. Now, it's called the Shrine of Our Lord of the Miracles, and every year a procession occurs in October—when the earthquake hit in 1746—in its honor. That's as impressive as any Good Friday celebration.

Philippines

Instead of going for theater productions or fake blood, some Filipinos get literally nailed to crosses, real nails and all. They stay on the crosses for a few minutes to do penitence for their sins, and then are let down to let their wounds heal.

Verges, Spain

On Easter Thursday, the people of Verges perform "La Dansa de la Mort," or the Dance of Death, with skeleton costumes, scythes, clocks, and ashes. It represents the final judgement.

Australia

In Australia, bunnies are considered pests. So in 1991, Rabbit-Free Australia started a campaign to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby, a native Australian marsupial. Now, some companies make chocolate Easter bilbies to celebrate.

Norway

Every year around Easter time, people in Norway curl up with new crime novels. This "Easter thriller" tradition started in 1923 when a publisher ran a front-page newspaper ad for a new who-done-it book so convincing, people thought it was real news.

Poland

Splashing people with water on Easter Monday is said to bestow them with health and beauty in Poland. That straw getup is an Easter tradition as well.

In Bermuda, people fly kites on Good Friday to represent Jesus on his way to heaven. Here, President George Bush and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher join kids to launch kites into the sky in 1990.

Iztapalapa, Mexico

This is one of the most realistic and brutal reenactments of the Crucifixion of Christ, with plenty of flogging and fake blood. The man chosen to play Jesus goes through physical and psychological training for an entire year leading up to Good Friday.

Bessieres, France

Back in the 1800s, Napoleon stopped with his army in Bessieres and the omelettes that the townspeople fed them were so good he ordered them to make a giant omelette the next day. So they say, anyway. Now, every Easter, the Giant Omelette Brotherhood turn thousands of eggs into a 10-foot breakfast.

Lima, Peru

In the 1600s, a slave painted a mural of Jesus on the cross in an adobe hut. Legend has it that despite attempts to paint over it and a massive earthquake, the mural stood strong. Now, it's called the Shrine of Our Lord of the Miracles, and every year a procession occurs in October—when the earthquake hit in 1746—in its honor. That's as impressive as any Good Friday celebration.

Philippines

Instead of going for theater productions or fake blood, some Filipinos get literally nailed to crosses, real nails and all. They stay on the crosses for a few minutes to do penitence for their sins, and then are let down to let their wounds heal.

Verges, Spain

On Easter Thursday, the people of Verges perform "La Dansa de la Mort," or the Dance of Death, with skeleton costumes, scythes, clocks, and ashes. It represents the final judgement.

Australia

In Australia, bunnies are considered pests. So in 1991, Rabbit-Free Australia started a campaign to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby, a native Australian marsupial. Now, some companies make chocolate Easter bilbies to celebrate.

Norway

Every year around Easter time, people in Norway curl up with new crime novels. This "Easter thriller" tradition started in 1923 when a publisher ran a front-page newspaper ad for a new who-done-it book so convincing, people thought it was real news.

Poland

Splashing people with water on Easter Monday is said to bestow them with health and beauty in Poland. That straw getup is an Easter tradition as well.

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9 Good Friday and Easter traditions from around the world

Here's how they celebrate Holy Week in other countries, from the bookish to the brutal